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Montana Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Rules checked against Montana's statutes and labor agency on 2026-10-03

In Montana, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due immediately (by the earlier of close of business or 4 hours after notice, per ARM 24.16.7511), unless a written policy allows the next regular payday or 15 days, whichever is first. If the employee quits: by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Pay frequency: Montana lets the employer set the pay period; if none is set, it is presumed semimonthly. Wages can't be held more than 10 business days after they're due.

Final pay: fired
Immediately (or per written policy)
Final pay: quits
Next payday or 15 days, if sooner
Pay frequency
Employer sets it (semimonthly if none)
Payday deadline
10 business days
after the pay period ends

Montana final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
Immediately (by the earlier of close of business or 4 hours after notice, per ARM 24.16.7511), unless a written policy allows the next regular payday or 15 days, whichever is first.
Quits
By the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first.
Final-pay source
MCA 39-3-205

14 states require final pay immediately or within about three days of a firing (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah and Vermont); most others allow the next regular payday. Final wages include all earned pay; whether unused vacation must be paid out is a separate state rule.

How often Montana employers must pay

Montana lets the employer set the pay period; if none is set, it is presumed semimonthly. Wages can't be held more than 10 business days after they're due.

  • All employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)

Green: allowed. Amber: allowed only if a condition is met. Struck through: not allowed without approval.

Rule
Employer sets it (semimonthly if none) (no frequency law)
Salaried / exempt staff
Same rule as other employees.
Payday deadline after the pay period
Wages may not be withheld more than 10 business days after they're due and payable (MCA 39-3-204). Late timesheets can be paid in the next pay period.
Posting / notice of paydays
On an employee's written request before work begins, state the wage rate and paydays in writing or by posting (MCA 39-3-203).
Changing paydays
No specific advance-notice rule in the wage payment law; give written notice before the change as a best practice.

Same category (no frequency law): Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Build a Montana payroll calendar

Generate every 2026–2028 payday for your schedule, moved for bank holidays, and check it against Montana's frequency and payday-deadline rules. Download it as Excel, CSV, PDF or a calendar file.

Payroll calendar settings

Pay periods run Sunday–Saturday; payday is Friday, 6 days after the period ends (e.g. Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025 → Fri, Jan 2, 2026).

Paychecks in 2026
27
Usual is 26 — plan for the extra payroll
Months with 3+ paychecks
3
January, July, December
Paydays moved
2
Weekend or holiday
First / last payday
Jan 2 – Dec 31
Fri / Thu

Year-end shift: the payday scheduled for Fri, Jan 1, 2027 moves to Thu, Dec 31, 2026 and is paid in 2026, so it counts toward 2026 — W-2 wages, Social Security wage base and 401(k) limits follow the date wages are paid.

27 biweekly paychecks. If salaried staff are paid annual salary ÷ 26, a 27th check pays about 3.8% more than the salary for the year; dividing by 27 lowers each check about 3.7% instead. Decide before January and adjust per-paycheck benefit deductions and 401(k) deferrals.

Check #Pay periodPay dateSubmit payroll byDays after period endNotes
1Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025Fri, Jan 2, 2026Tue, Dec 30, 20256
2Dec 28, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026Fri, Jan 16, 2026Wed, Jan 14, 20266
3Jan 11, 2026 – Jan 24, 2026Fri, Jan 30, 2026Wed, Jan 28, 202663rd check in January.
4Jan 25, 2026 – Feb 7, 2026Fri, Feb 13, 2026Wed, Feb 11, 20266
5Feb 8, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026Fri, Feb 27, 2026Wed, Feb 25, 20266
6Feb 22, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026Fri, Mar 13, 2026Wed, Mar 11, 20266
7Mar 8, 2026 – Mar 21, 2026Fri, Mar 27, 2026Wed, Mar 25, 20266
8Mar 22, 2026 – Apr 4, 2026Fri, Apr 10, 2026Wed, Apr 8, 20266
9Apr 5, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026Fri, Apr 24, 2026Wed, Apr 22, 20266
10Apr 19, 2026 – May 2, 2026Fri, May 8, 2026Wed, May 6, 20266
11May 3, 2026 – May 16, 2026Fri, May 22, 2026Wed, May 20, 20266
12May 17, 2026 – May 30, 2026Fri, Jun 5, 2026Wed, Jun 3, 20266
13May 31, 2026 – Jun 13, 2026Thu, Jun 18, 2026Tue, Jun 16, 20265Moved from Fri, Jun 19, 2026 (Juneteenth).
14Jun 14, 2026 – Jun 27, 2026Fri, Jul 3, 2026Wed, Jul 1, 20266
15Jun 28, 2026 – Jul 11, 2026Fri, Jul 17, 2026Wed, Jul 15, 20266
16Jul 12, 2026 – Jul 25, 2026Fri, Jul 31, 2026Wed, Jul 29, 202663rd check in July.
17Jul 26, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026Fri, Aug 14, 2026Wed, Aug 12, 20266
18Aug 9, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026Fri, Aug 28, 2026Wed, Aug 26, 20266
19Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026Fri, Sep 11, 2026Wed, Sep 9, 20266
20Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 19, 2026Fri, Sep 25, 2026Wed, Sep 23, 20266
21Sep 20, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026Fri, Oct 9, 2026Wed, Oct 7, 20266
22Oct 4, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026Fri, Oct 23, 2026Wed, Oct 21, 20266
23Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026Fri, Nov 6, 2026Wed, Nov 4, 20266
24Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Fri, Nov 20, 2026Wed, Nov 18, 20266
25Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026Fri, Dec 4, 2026Wed, Dec 2, 20266
26Nov 29, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026Fri, Dec 18, 2026Wed, Dec 16, 20266
27Dec 13, 2026 – Dec 26, 2026Thu, Dec 31, 2026Tue, Dec 29, 20265Moved from Fri, Jan 1, 2027 (New Year's Day). 3rd check in December.

Holidays: Federal Reserve Bank closures, when ACH direct deposits don't settle (the Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday, such as July 3, 2026 and Dec. 24, 2027). Submit-payroll dates count Federal Reserve business days; your provider's cutoff may differ.

Other Montana payroll rules

Montana final paycheck and payday FAQ

When is a final paycheck due in Montana if an employee is fired?

Immediately (by the earlier of close of business or 4 hours after notice, per ARM 24.16.7511), unless a written policy allows the next regular payday or 15 days, whichever is first. Source: MCA 39-3-205.

When is a final paycheck due in Montana if an employee quits?

By the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Source: MCA 39-3-205.

How often do Montana employers have to pay employees?

Montana lets the employer set the pay period; if none is set, it is presumed semimonthly. Wages can't be held more than 10 business days after they're due.

Can I pay employees monthly in Montana?

Yes. Monthly pay periods are allowed for all employees. Salaried / exempt staff: Same rule as other employees.

How soon after a pay period ends must Montana employees be paid?

Wages may not be withheld more than 10 business days after they're due and payable (MCA 39-3-204). Late timesheets can be paid in the next pay period.

Do I have to give notice before changing paydays in Montana?

The wage payment law has no specific advance-notice rule for changing paydays. Give employees written notice before the change as a best practice, and keep paying at least as often as the law requires.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-03

Related Resources on This Site

Final paycheck and payday laws in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with Montana's labor department before relying on them.